New use for lignum vitae

[Tom Jones III]

I was reading the book Brave Companions: Portraits in History last night. There is a chapter about building the first railroad in Panama, long before the canal was built. The railroad was intended to solve the same problem as the canal. They were having tremendous problems in construction, not the least everything was rotting in the continual wet conditions. Their railroad ties made out of spruce or pine would rot out in a year. The only thing they could do is use lignum vitae for the railroad ties! Reportedly, they had to drill a hole before they could drive in the spike.
(http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?userid=VJ6wtB1COq&ath=David+G%2E+McCullough)

[Brian Jarnell]

I hope they had a chiropractor on hand after using that stuff.:)